Unit 2 Concept 1 Vocabulary

12th Grade

Hematopoiesis

Blood cell formation in red bone marrow.

Cartilage

Connective tissue that covers the external surface of bones and remains on the ends of bones.

Ligament

Strong connective tissue that connects bones to other bones.

Tendon

Connective tissue that connects skeletal muscles to bones.

Joint (articulation)

A place where two or more bones meet.

Intervertebral discs

Pads of fibrocartilage between vertebrae that cushion the spine and absorb shock.

Sutures

Immovable fibrous joints that connect bones of the skull.

Sesamoid bones

Bones embedded within tendons, such as the patella.

Osteon

The basic structural unit of compact bone.

Lamellae

Layers of bone tissue arranged around the central canal of an osteon.

Central canal

A canal through the middle of an osteon that contains blood vessels and nerves.

Trabeculae

Tiny bone struts in spongy bone that help resist stress.

Lacunae

Small spaces between lamellae that contain osteocytes.

Osteocyte

A mature bone cell that maintains bone tissue.

Osteoblast

A bone cell that builds new bone tissue.

Osteoclast

A bone cell that breaks down and absorbs bone tissue.

Ossification

The process of bone formation.

Fracture

A break or crack in a bone.